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Scientists have dubbed this area as the "Mar de Tetys", or the Sea of Thetys, because this area was once completely submerged in water. This is evidenced by traces of marine life fossils found in the area.[3]

In July 1970 an Athena test missile launched from a U.S. military base near Green River, Utah toward White Sands Missile Range lost control and fell in the Mapimí Desert region.
When the rocket went off course, it was carrying two small containers of cobalt 57, a radioactive element.[4][5]

After several weeks of searching, local farmers found and reported the crash in the Northeast corner of the State of Durango. Once the rocket was found, a road was built, and the missile wreckage and a small amount of contaminated top soil was transported away.[3]

As a result of the US Air Force recovery operation there, a number of myths and legends relating to the area arose. Reportedly, a local resident hired to guard the crash debris during recovery operations helped spread these rumors. Legends include "strange magnetic anomalies that prevent radio transmission", mutations of flora and fauna, extraterrestrial visitations,[1][2] and a Mexican pilot who supposedly first reported that his radio experienced unexplained malfunctions while flying over the area in the 1930s.[3] The area is sometimes compared to the Bermuda Triangle, as both are located between parallels 26 and 28.[3]

However, when compasses and communications equipment are shown to work properly in the zone, local new age and paranormal enthusiasts claim that "the zone moves around". Residents, who do not accept the zone's existence, call such enthusiasts "zoneros" or "silenciosos", and say their activities have an adverse effect on the region.[6] Nonetheless, the legend is now being used to help promote tourism in the region.[7]